Michigan in the Civil War
Spalding, Wilbur F., 1834-1864.
Photostat copies of fifty-seven letters (1862-1864) written to his wife, mainly from New Orleans and Port Hudson. He was at the siege of Port Hudson and tells a bit about it. He also describes a march through corn, sweet potato, and cane fields to support batteries firing on a Rebel gunboat. Much of each letter, however, is given to expressions of unhappiness with army life and critical comments about food and food prices, immorality in camp, officers, the conduct of the war, as well as concern for his family and home affairs. One diary (Sept.-Dec. 1862) contains short entries about the trip from Detroit to Washington and then to New Orleans and about camp life and duties. Spalding, of Richland, Mich., was in Company I, 6th Michigan Infantry, chiefly on heavy artillery duty. He died from the effects of disease while on furlough, Nov. 6, 1864.
The collection also includes one letter (June 12, 1863) from Augustus W. Larabee giving a brief account of the battle and casualties at Port Hudson. Larabee, of Charlotte, Mich., was in Company I, 6th Michigan Infantry.
This collection is available on microfilm for interlibrary loan.